Audio system control device

Abstract

Various implementations include devices and approaches for controlling an audio system. In particular cases, a device with a rotatable feature having distinct operating modes is used to control a remote audio device. The rotatable feature can enable multi-aspect control of audio output at an audio device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a rotatable feature that can rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction;   at least one communication module for connecting to a remote audio device; and   at least one processor configured to,
 in a first mode, provide input to the remote audio device to control a first aspect of audio being played on the remote audio device, wherein the input is a first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the first mode and the input is a second input different from the first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the first mode, and 
 in a second mode different from the first mode, the second mode initiated by user input, provide the input to the remote audio device to control a second aspect of the audio being played on the remote audio device, the second aspect different from the first aspect, wherein the input is a third input different from the first and second inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the second mode and the input is a fourth input different from the first, second, and third inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the second mode, 
 wherein the second mode enables control of grouping input for additional remote audio devices. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication module includes a wireless communication module or a wired communication module for communicating with the remote audio device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode enables control of at least one of,
 volume of audio playback, track forward or backward selection, channel forward or backward selection, or skip forward or backward selection.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the user input to initiate the second mode includes at least one of,
 pushing the rotatable feature, pushing and holding the rotatable feature, or pushing a separate button on the device.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to enable a third mode different from the first mode and the second mode, wherein the third mode is initiated by multi-factor actuation of the rotatable feature, wherein the multi-factor actuation includes a double-press of the rotatable feature. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide feedback on adjustments to at least one of a mode or an aspect of the audio wherein the feedback includes at least one of, audible feedback, visual feedback or haptic feedback. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein a type of the feedback differs based on mode. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be paired with the remote audio device at initial setup of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to pair with additional remote audio devices to coordinate grouping of audio output. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to pair with the remote audio device at the initial setup of the device using a software application, wherein after initial setup of the device using the software application, the device is configured to function as the sole controller for audio output at the remote audio device. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to enable browsing between distinct selections of,
 audio content source, audio genre or sub-genre, volume setting, or speaker grouping.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first aspect of the audio being played and the second aspect of the audio being played are adjustable without interrupting the audio being played on the remote device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the remote audio device includes an amplifier. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable feature is a physical interface control. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the first aspect of the audio being played at the remote audio device or the second aspect of the audio being played at the remote audio device only while the audio is being played at the remote audio device. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second mode enables control of the grouping input for the additional remote audio devices,
 wherein while the remote audio device is outputting audio in a space, the at least one processor is configured to:
 i) in response to rotation of the rotatable feature in a first direction: add an additional remote audio device to a group including the remote audio device and initiate audio output at the additional remote audio device at a same volume as the audio output at the remote audio device, and 
 ii) in response to rotation of the rotatable feature in a second direction: remove the additional remote audio device from the group including the remote audio device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the rotation of the rotatable feature coincides with a volume adjustment of the audio output at the remote audio device,
 wherein the additional remote audio device is not outputting audio prior to rotation of the rotatable feature in the first direction, and   wherein the additional remote audio device stops outputting audio in response to removal from the group.   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a remote audio device using a device having a rotatable feature that can rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the method including:
 in a first mode, providing input to the remote audio device to control a first aspect of audio being played on the remote audio device, wherein the input is a first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the first mode and the input is a second input different from the first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the first mode, and   in a second mode different from the first mode, the second mode initiated by user input, providing the input to the remote audio device to control a second aspect of the audio being played on the remote audio device, the second aspect different from the first aspect, wherein the input is a third input different from the first and second inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the second mode and the input is a fourth input different from the first, second, and third inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the second mode,   wherein the second mode enables control of grouping input for additional remote audio devices.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the device is configured to be paired with the remote audio device at initial setup of the device, and wherein the rotatable feature is a physical interface control. 
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 a rotatable feature that can rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction;   at least one communication module for connecting to a remote audio device; and   at least one processor configured to,   in a first mode, provide input to the remote audio device to control a first aspect of audio being played on the remote audio device, wherein the input is a first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the first mode and the input is a second input different from the first input when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the first mode, and   in a second mode different from the first mode, the second mode initiated by user input, provide the input to the remote audio device to control a second aspect of the audio being played on the remote audio device, the second aspect different from the first aspect, wherein the input is a third input different from the first and second inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the first direction in the second mode and the input is a fourth input different from the first, second, and third inputs when the rotatable feature is rotated in the second direction in the second mode, wherein the second mode enables control of orchestration of the audio played at the remote audio device by:   in response to detecting an additional remote audio device in a same space as the remote audio device while the remote audio device is outputting audio, adjusting a channel assignment for the remote audio device and assigning a distinct channel to the additional remote audio device,   wherein the rotatable feature enables scrolling between distinct channel assignments for at least one of the remote audio device or the additional remote audio device.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one communication module includes a wireless communication module or a wired communication module for communicating with the remote audio device.